Pilgrims Face Recognition Dataset -- HUFRD

In this work, we define a new pilgrims face recognition dataset, called HUFRD dataset. The new developed dataset presents various pilgrims' images taken from outside the Holy Masjid El-Harram in Makkah during the 2011-2012 Hajj and Umrah seasons. Such dataset will be used to test our developed facial recognition and detection algorithms, as well as assess in the missing and found recognition system \cite{crowdsensing}.Comment: 5 pages, 13 images, 1 table of a new HUFRD wor

Hajj and Umrah Event Recognition Datasets

In this note, new Hajj and Umrah Event Recognition datasets (HUER) are presented. The demonstrated datasets are based on videos and images taken during 2011-2012 Hajj and Umrah seasons. HUER is the first collection of datasets covering the six types of Hajj and Umrah ritual events (rotating in Tawaf around Kabaa, performing Sa'y between Safa and Marwa, standing on the mount of Arafat, staying overnight in Muzdalifah, staying two or three days in Mina, and throwing Jamarat). The HUER datasets also contain video and image databases for nine types of human actions during Hajj and Umrah (walking, drinking from Zamzam water, sleeping, smiling, eating, praying, sitting, shaving hairs and ablutions, reading the holy Quran and making duaa). The spatial resolutions are 1280 x 720 pixels for images and 640 x 480 pixels for videos and have lengths of 20 seconds in average with 30 frame per second rates.Comment: 4 pages, 18 figures with 33 image

Tourism and Crisis: Comparing the Impacts of COVID-19 and Natural Disasters on The Hajj and Umrah Industry

This study aims to compare the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Natural Disasters on the Hajj and Umrah industries. This pilgrimage substantially contributes to foreign exchange earnings; therefore, the negative potential caused by disasters must be a significant concern for policymakers in this sector. In recent years, religious-based tourism, especially the hajj and umrah (the out-of-season pilgrimage to Mecca), has experienced significant rise of demand worldwide. To explore the impact of various disasters on this industry, using the purposive sampling method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with travel agents in Bandung over the course of two months. The findings from this research are that there is a sharp difference in the destructive impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic when compared to natural disasters. In both instances, the companies suffered from external and internal pressures. The internal problems are the loss of revenue while they still need to pay employee salaries, customers’ demands for refunds, and the uncertainty whether they could re-open their business. Meanwhile, externally, they have been faced with strict regulations on health protocols, the weakening global economy, increased operational costs, and ever-changing policies made by the governments of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia

Travel Med Infect Dis

BackgroundTravelers to international mass gatherings may be exposed to conditions which increase their risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Most existing data come from single clinical sites seeing returning travelers, or relate to single events.MethodsInvestigators evaluated ill travelers returning from a mass gathering, and presenting to a GeoSentinel site between August 2015 and April 2019, and collected data on the nature of the event and the relation between final diagnoses and the mass gathering.ResultsOf 296 ill travelers, 51% were female and the median age was 54 years (range: 1\u201388). Over 82% returned from a religious mass gathering, most frequently Umrah or Hajj. Only 3% returned from the Olympics in Brazil or South Korea. Other mass gatherings included other sporting events, cultural or entertainment events, and conferences. Respiratory diseases accounted for almost 80% of all diagnoses, with vaccine preventable illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia accounting for 26% and 20% of all diagnoses respectively. This was followed by gastrointestinal illnesses, accounting for 4.5%. Sixty-three percent of travelers reported having a pre-travel encounter with a healthcare provider.ConclusionsDespite this surveillance being limited to patients presenting to GeoSentinel sites, our findings highlight the importance of respiratory diseases at mass gatherings, the need for pre-travel consultations before mass gatherings, and consideration of vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal disease.CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/United States2021-05-09T00:00:00Z31707112PMC71102177642vault:3541

Virtual reality training for Hajj pilgrims as an innovative community translation dissemination medium

During the Islamic pilgrimage known as Hajj, Muslim pilgrims from all over the world, with many different backgrounds, gather together and coexist in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Managing a large and diverse congregation for the safe and successful completion of Hajj requires effective communication channels between speakers of the mainstream languages and international pilgrims or non-Arabic-speaking pilgrims. The focus of the study is on the use of innovative media in community translation (CT) dissemination methods and will determine which CT dissemination media are the most effective for English-speaking Hajj pilgrims. The study compares three forms of media: the booklet and video guides from the official Mnask Academy media produced by Hajj authorities; and the prototype of this study, an immersive virtual reality-based Hajj training media “VR-Hajj”. The methodology of the study consisted of three stages, starting with the development of assessment tools. Community translation usability (CTX) and medium usability (MX) for the different community translation dissemination media, which were based on the literature on CT studies and user-centred translation (UCT) studies, as well as usability studies (UX). The next stage was prototyping, which involved the collaboration between the researcher and virtual reality experts (developers and designers). The final stage was testing the three community translation dissemination media mentioned earlier with English-speaking Muslim users. A total of 96 Muslim respondents were surveyed, three groups were formed, and each participant evaluated a community translation dissemination medium. The self-administered questionnaire elicited perceptions and feedback about CTX and MX from the three groups. Quantitative data was processed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data was analysed using the Thematic Analysis (TA) method. The results of the present study revealed significant differences between the levels of community translation perception and medium usability achieved by participants from each group. In addition, the results revealed the shortcomings of the conventional Mnask Academy training media currently in use, as well as the promising advantages of using innovative immersive virtual reality technology for Hajj training. The study concludes that immersive virtual reality technology, which allows pilgrims to mentally travel to the Hajj area, is more effective for understanding community translation, Hajj rituals and related cultural aspects than passively-created community translation media

Influenza is more common than Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) among hospitalized adult Saudi patients

Background Since the initial description of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), we adopted a systematic process of screening patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia. Here, we report the result of the surveillance activity in a general hospital in Saudi Arabia over a four year period. Materials and methods All admitted patients with community acquired pneumonia from 2012 to 2016 were tested for MERS-CoV. In addition, testing for influenza viruses was carried out starting April 2015. Results During the study period, a total of 2657 patients were screened for MERS-CoV and only 20 (0.74%) tested positive. From January 2015 to December 2016, a total of 1644 patients were tested for both MERS-CoV and influenza. None of the patients tested positive for MERS-CoV and 271 (16.4%) were positive for influenza. The detected influenza viruses were Influenza A (107, 6.5%), pandemic 2009 H1N1 (n = 120, 7.3%), and Influenza B (n = 44, 2.7%). Pandemic H1N1 was the most common influenza in 2015 with a peak in peaked October to December and influenza A other than H1N1 was more common in 2016 with a peak in August and then October to December. Conclusions MERS-CoV was a rare cause of community acquired pneumonia and other viral causes including influenza were much more common. Thus, admitted patients are potentially manageable with Oseltamivir or Zanamivir therapy

Hajj crowd management via a mobile augmented reality application: a case of The Hajj event, Saudi Arabia

Hajj event is considered as one of the Islamic pillars that each Muslim, who could afford its’ expenses and are well bodied, should perform its’ rituals at least once in a lifetime. Therefore, they could travel to Mecca city, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj rituals. This holy city hosts this event annually in the last month of the Arabic calendar, which is Dhul Hijjah, and it lasts for 6 days. In addition, those Muslim visitors or pilgrims are obligated to be accommodated at Hajj ritual places, which are Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah. However, in the last ten years, it was noticed that the Hajj events are crowded every year. Therefore, Hajj crowd management is being a complex task, due to the huge number of the pilgrims as they are crowded at the Hajj ritual places. This huge number is causing many problems, and Hajj authorities are facing difficulties in managing those crowded pilgrims. As a result, this research focuses on three main problems that occur at Hajj events. First, difficulties in organizing the crowds’ movements of the pilgrims, as Hajj events host enormous number of pilgrims in limited geographical spaces at the ritual places. This problem leads to overcrowdings, congestions and stampedes. Second, the pilgrims could get lost at Hajj ritual places, especially when they are moving between these places. Third, lack of directional information and guidance for those lost pilgrims. This problem leads to difficulties in finding their groups at the ritual sites, because the huge number of the pilgrims. Thus, this research proposes to deploy a technology, such as a Mobile Augmented Reality application. This application would assist the Hajj authorities (staff and operators) in managing the pilgrims’ movements between the ritual places, and to provide directions to the lost pilgrims. In addition, it would help those lost pilgrims by alerting, and sending their location information to their group guide. On the other hand, the research literature review covers previous studies about the Hajj crowd management, as it is divided into two perspectives. The theoretical perspective, which explains the crowd management steps that should be followed and applied, as these steps would help the Hajj authorities to succeed in crowd management at Hajj events. The practical perspective presents some studies that are related to the Hajj events. Those studies offered some solutions to manage crowded pilgrims, to avoid overcrowdings and stampedes, and to identify, locate and guide lost pilgrims. The solutions were Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) deceives and monitoring cameras. In addition, this research conducted and distributed questionnaires on 104 respondents. They were selected as they are related to Hajj events. The results of this research method confirmed that the Hajj events face problems. For example, overcrowdings, congestions and stampedes that occur at the ritual places, due to lack of pilgrims organization in limited spaces at these places. In addition, foreign pilgrims face difficulties in guidance, due to lack of directional information, and they could get lost from their groups at the Hajj events. In addition, the respondents suggested using technology to assist Hajj authorities in Hajj crowd management. Therefore, deploying MAR application is suggested, as a solution to solve or at least reduce the Hajj problems. The proposed application could help the Hajj authorities to manage the crowded pilgrims at the Hajj ritual places as this research illustrates two scenarios in Hajj crowd management. In conclusion, this application is beneficial and significant in crowd management at Hajj events, as it could provide instant information using high-speed process in sending and receiving information. In addition, the information about the pilgrims’ movements could be gathered, presented on smart devices and shared between applications’ users. Those users will be the Hajj staff on the ground and the Hajj operators in the control room of Hajj operations

A Study of Adoption and Acceptance of e-Umrah System in Saudi Arabia: Overcoming Infrastructure Barriers and Limitations

Knowledge and understanding of effective e-government to business services remains limited. At the same time there is little empirical knowledge or theoretical understanding of how infrastructure works in the government to business domain. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate infrastructure in e-government and to specifically understand the impact of infrastructure on the relationship between government and business services. The e-Umrah government information system in Saudi Arabia was selected as the context for the investigation and involved identifying the factors that play a role in shaping the existing infrastructure, understanding the barriers which impede the development of government to business infrastructure; and exploring the challenges within the infrastructure that hinder businesses in their use of e-government services. The system was developed to connect all government and business sectors which involve in the Umrah activities in Saudi Arabia for the purpose of facilitating Umrah services for the international visitors who come from all over the globe anytime during the year to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to perform Umrah rituals. A mixed method approach was utilised to investigate and understand e-Umrah system. A qualitative case study and an interpretive approach were used to understand the infrastructure of the e-Umrah system. Semi-structured interviews, informed by Star and Ruhleder's (1996) eight dimensions for investigating infrastructure, were conducted with 43 Umrah companies. The data collected was then analysed based on Miles and Huberman (1994) three steps which consisted of data reduction, data display, and data reporting to establish and follow a systematic and thematic technique of data analysis. The data reduction step was based on Newman’s (2006) three coding steps to prepare the information for interpretation and comparison. Prior to the main qualitative study, a preliminary quantitative study was conducted to gain information about the e-Umrah system, how it operates, and to understand the levels of adoption, usefulness and ease of use of the e-Umrah system. The findings of the study demonstrate that the e-Umrah system’s infrastructure is affected by variables within each of the eight dimensions of Star and Ruhleder (1996): built on an installed base; embeddedness; embodiment of standards; transparency; become visible upon breakdown; links with conventions of practice; learned as part of membership and reach or scope. Additionally, these dimensions not only affect the infrastructure of the e-Umrah system but also have a relationship with each other. The main problem found in the e-Umrah system’s infrastructure include a lack of integration of some entities and services thereby preventing electronic transactions from taking place and hindering effective access to the use of electronic services available. The infrastructure framework proposed by Star and Ruhleder (1996) is based on the view that the eight dimensions have a direct and relatively fixed impact on infrastructure. This study contributed to enhancement of Star and Ruhleder’s (1996) framework through the discovery that not only did the eight dimensions have an impact on infrastructure, but that each of the dimensions also had an interrelationship with each of the other dimensions. In addition, the study revealed on an adaptive framework was found to provide an in depth and intensive understanding when investigating infrastructure; thus contributing to a holistic understanding both of the framework, and of its subsequent impact on infrastructure. Instead of focusing on one particular dimension of infrastructure, this study has adopted a more holistic approach to investigating effective e-government to business services. This holistic approach also argues that e-government should be examined from different perspectives including technological, social, political, managerial/organisational, and business aspects. Combining all these aspects in a holistic approach to the definition and scope of e-government enables the development of a broader and contextual understanding of e-government. Rather than focusing on just one aspect of e-government and therefore narrowing it down, because effective e-government concerns not only the utilisation of information technology, but also a combination of technology with all the other dimensions of infrastructure that have been identified and investigated in the study